2 LIGHT HORSES : BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



but they were good enough to induce the Conqueror to take a 

 good many away with him. When the Romans established 

 themselves in Britain, they found it expedient to send over a 

 large body of cavalry to assist in maintaining order, and the 

 horses of these soldiers were doubtless crossed with the native 

 stock ; and so the British horse, no matter what it was like, 

 received its first modification or cross. Whether this cross 

 improved it or not, is not to the purpose ; we merely note the 

 fact that it was, so far as known, the first step towards manu- 

 facturing what we venture to describe as a composite breed, 

 more especially as what we have generically termed Roman 

 horses were collected, not only from Italy, but from Gaul and 

 Spain. 



Then, again, it has been said that the time of the Roman 

 occupation of Britain, saw the first importation of Eastern 

 blood, as Severus is reported to have raced loonafidz Arabs at 

 W T etherby, Yorkshire. This story, however, lacks verifica- 

 tion, and may be passed over without any importance being 

 attached to it. Rather more trustworthy, perhaps, is the 

 statement that Hugh Capet, of France, while courting 

 Ethelwitha, sister of King Athelstan, sent the latter a present of 

 some German "running horses," partly, no doubt, in honour of 

 the event which was soon to take place ; and partly by way of 

 congratulation to the King on his having subdued the rebellious 

 portions of the Heptarchy. At any rate, whatever may have 

 been the motive, we are perhaps justified in concluding that 

 our native horses were crossed with these new comers. This, 

 it may be noticed, is the first mention of " running horses," 

 and the conclusion may be drawn that they were of a lighter 

 build than our own native steeds, though we are still left in 

 the dark as to what sort of an animal the German running 

 horse was. Here, however, was the introduction of another 

 strain of blood. 



William the Conqueror's own charger is said to have been 

 a Spanish horse, and Roger de Boulogne, Earl of Shrewsbury, 

 is reported to have introduced Spanish horses on his estates. 



